Keyless control system

Abstract

A keyless control system for a motor vehicle or other structure operates to activate a device associated with the structure. The system includes a smart relay operating in conjunction with a control circuit, and a signal receiver which activates the relay upon receipt of an appropriate control signal. The signal may be an electromagnetic signal or an acoustic signal.

1 . A keyless control system for a structure, said system comprising:
 an actuator for activating a device associated with said structure;   a control circuit for supplying electrical power to said actuator; and   a smart relay in electrical communication with said control circuit, said smart relay having an electromagnetic signal receiver associated therewith wherein said receiver is operative to activate the relay upon receipt of an appropriate electromagnetic signal.   
   
   
       2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein said structure is a motor vehicle, and said activator is operable to control a vehicular function selected from the group consisting of: door locks, door opener, windows, ignition switch, starter, lights, horn, fuel pump, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said system is retrofittable onto a motor vehicle not otherwise having said keyless control system, wherein said smart relay is configured to be a direct replacement for a preexisting control relay in said vehicle. 
   
   
       4 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein said smart relay further includes a transmitter. 
   
   
       5 . The control system of  claim 4 , wherein said system further includes at least one other smart relay and wherein said transmitter is operable to broadcast a signal to said at least one other smart relay. 
   
   
       6 . The control system of  claim 4 , wherein said transmitter is operative to broadcast to a base station separate from said structure. 
   
   
       7 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein said smart relay is further activatable by an electrical signal communicated thereto by an electrical circuit. 
   
   
       8 . A method of providing keyless control for a function of a motor vehicle wherein said motor vehicle includes a control system of the type comprising:
 an activator for activating a device associated with said motor vehicle;   a control circuit for supplying electrical power to said activator; and   a control relay in electrical communication with said control circuit, said relay being activatable by said control circuit, wherein said relay when activated is operable to cause said actuator to activate said control system;   wherein said method comprises the steps of:   providing a smart relay, said smart relay having a signal receiver associated therewith, said smart relay being operable, upon receipt of a control signal from said receiver;   substituting said smart relay for said control relay so that said smart relay, when activated by receipt of said radiofrequency control signal, is operable to cause said actuator to activate said vehicular function; and   providing a radiofrequency transmitter which is operable to provide a radiofrequency control signal to said smart relay for activating said smart relay.   
   
   
       9 . A keyless control system for a motor vehicle, said system comprising:
 a transmitter operable to provide a signal;   a receiver associated with the motor vehicle, said receiver being operable to provide a vehicular control signal upon receipt of said signal from said transmitter, said control signal being operative to control a function of said vehicle;   wherein said control signal enables the starting circuit of the motor vehicle so that the vehicle may be started by subsequent activation of the starter motor.   
   
   
       10 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein said activation of said starter motor is a manual activation. 
   
   
       11  The system of  claim 9 , wherein said control signal enables the operation of the starter motor. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said control signal enables the operation of the ignition. 
   
   
       13 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein said receiver, upon receipt of said signal, generates a control signal which allows the vehicle to operate only at a speed which does not exceed a preselected speed limit. 
   
   
       14 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein said receiver, upon receipt of said signal, generates a control signal which allows said motor vehicle to be driven over a distance which does not exceed a preselected distance. 
   
   
       15 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein said system stores data corresponding to signals which it has received.